Song Yanqing and Xie Ruilin embraced each other for a long while.
From outside the door came a hurrying voice, "Young Master, the wedding feast has already begun, the Master and Madam are urging you to hurry over."
Reluctantly letting go of Xie Ruilin, Song Yanqing said, "I’ll go entertain the guests first. I’ve ordered the servants to send some food over to you later; don’t starve yourself. Wait for me tonight, I’ll come over."
"Okay." Xie Ruilin obediently complied.
Then Song Yanqing left.
At the doorway, Song Yanqing’s attendant Mu Dong anxiously said, "After hearing that you entered the bridal chamber, the Master and Madam came directly to the concubine’s room, and they were furious."
"I know." Song Yanqing was unconcerned.
He was about to take Mu Dong to greet the guests and offer them drinks at the feast.
"Stop!" Song Yuanzhong called out to him from the inner room.
Song Yanqing halted in his steps and paid his respects, "Father."
"You leave your official wife and go straight to the concubine’s quarters; do you realize you’ve broken the rules!" Song Yuanzhong scolded.
"Father, Ruilin and I were truly in love. It was you, Mother, and the elders of the Duke Mansion who insisted on my marriage with Xie Ruotong, on breaking us apart. Now Ruilin has sacrificed her reputation and honor for me; should I not treat her well?!" Song Yanqing looked directly at Song Yuanzhong, his words sharp and his attitude firm, "If not for the accident, Ruilin would have been your officially married daughter-in-law. Now that she suffers such grievances, shouldn’t both of you, Father and Mother, be treating her even better along with me?!"
"The grievances that Xie Ruilin suffers for you are well understood by your mother and I, and we will treat her well. But now you have married Xie Ruotong; she is your officially married wife! In the same vein, you should also treat her well, not let her suffer such grievances on her first day married into the Song Family!"
"I have already obeyed my parents and the matchmaker’s words by marrying Xie Ruotong. Please Father, do not force me to do things I am unwilling to do. I do not like Xie Ruotong, therefore I cannot truly treat her well. It was her own choice to marry into the Song Family; she must bear all the consequences herself. That I can compromise this much is already my limit; please do not ask for more, Father."
"Song Yanqing!" Listening to these words from Song Yanqing, Song Yuanzhong immediately flew into a rage.
"Husband." Ming Yufang, the wife of Song Yuanzhong, quickly held him back, "Today is our son’s big day, and there are so many guests outside waiting for us. Let’s not argue between father and son, we should go greet the guests first. We can discuss this matter afterward."
Song Yuanzhong gave Song Yanqing a fierce look, knowing that he should indeed entertain the guests, and walked ahead leading the way.
Ming Yufang sighed as she looked at her son, giving him a glance, signaling him to follow.
Naturally, Song Yanqing dared not say more and followed along.
But the decision in his heart was one that no one could change!
The guests had all left.
The entire Song Residence became quiet.
The candlelight dimmed as well.
Having settled the last of the guests and feeling somewhat tired, Song Yanqing walked toward the inner room.
"Young Master." Mu Dong called out to him.
It was clear that the Young Master intended to visit the side chamber.
"You should go to the young madam." Mu Dong reminded.
"I never planned to go there, not just tonight but in the future as well."
"But the Master and Madam..."
"Where I choose to sleep cannot be forced by them!" Song Yanqing was resolute, "Mu Dong, it’s late; you should also go to sleep."
"But Young Master..."
Song Yanqing had already entered the courtyard of the side chamber.
Mu Dong just watched the back of his Young Master and sighed.
He left and went to the main courtyard, knocking on the door and calling, "Qiao’er girl."
Qiao’er hurriedly opened the door.
Her face lit up with joy, thinking it was the Young Master who had come.
But she saw only Mu Dong standing at the door.
"Where is the Young Master?" Qiao’er asked discontentedly.
"You should tell the young madam to rest first; the Young Master drank too much in his happiness today and has already gone to sleep in the study. Tell the young madam not to wait for the Young Master."
"Is he really drunk, or has he gone to the concubine’s room?" Qiao’er, being a clever girl, knew at a glance.
"Qiao’er girl, please don’t ask too much. I’m just here to pass on a message, and now I shall take my leave," Mu Dong said.
Of course, Mu Dong dared not lie, but he also dared not reveal too much, and so he bowed and departed.